MRI: Acquisition of a Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer and Laser System for Investigating the Evolution of the Earth's Climate, Oceans, and Tectonics

该合同为获得最新的激光烧蚀多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱计系统（LA-MC-ICPMS）提供了资金，该系统将被纳入德克萨斯a&m大学正在扩建的肯·威廉姆斯放射性同位素地球科学实验室。该仪器将由德克萨斯农工大学、国际海洋发现计划、德克萨斯农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂分校和德克萨斯农工大学加尔维斯顿分校的跨学科研究小组使用，以解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学方面的变革和跨学科问题。具体研究课题包括：1)新型过渡金属同位素测量，如铁、锌和镉作为海洋金属循环的示踪剂；2)了解如何利用同位素和微量元素示踪剂来了解过去气候变化与过去海洋生物生产力、深海环流以及大陆干旱和水文格局之间的关系；3)利用铀系测年新方法拓展地质年代学研究能力；4)利用碳酸盐中硼和钕同位素测量重建海洋和大气环流变化和海水pH历史。由早期职业和经验丰富的教师组成的多元化团队以及他们的学生将使用这些仪器来改变我们对地球在表面（生物圈，水圈和大气）和深度（岩石圈）工作方式的理解。我们打算通过研究经验和高影响力的教学机会，让大量本科生和研究生参与尖端的STEM培训，使用最先进的仪器，提供使用洁净室实验室技术和质谱仪操作的实践培训。该合同为激光烧蚀多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱计系统（LA-MC-ICPMS）的采购提供了资金，该系统将安装在德克萨斯州a&m大学的肯·威廉姆斯放射性成因同位素地球科学实验室。MC-ICPMS仪器包括一个ICP源，一个磁扇形质量分析仪，以及一个允许同时测量多种同位素的多个探测器阵列。这种静态同位素比值测量结果的精度远远优于单收集器ICPMS的顺序同位素测量结果。激光烧蚀（LA）是一种广泛应用于固体样品原位ICPMS分析的采样方法，这些样品要么难以消化，要么样品微域内空间关系的分辨率至关重要。激光系统包括HelEx样品室，以产生稳定的信号和可重复的烧蚀效果。该仪器将被一个跨学科研究小组用于解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学方面的问题。主要研究项目将集中在1)作为海洋金属循环示踪剂的新型过渡金属同位素测量；2)了解如何利用同位素和微量元素示踪剂来了解过去气候变化与过去海洋生物生产力、深海环流以及大陆干旱和水文格局之间的关系；3)利用分流ICPMS和锆石微量元素筛选等“岩石年代学”新方法，扩大了地质年代学研究能力，实现了高精度U-Pb定年；4)深海珊瑚U/Th定年和硼同位素测量重建海洋通风和海水pH历史；Nd同位素作为海洋和大气环流的示踪剂。

This award provides funding for the acquisition of a new state of the art Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be incorporated into the expanding Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers across Texas A&M University, the International Ocean Discovery Program, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University Galveston to address transformative and interdisciplinary questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Specific research topics include: 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements such as iron, zinc, and cadmium as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods in uranium series dating; 4) using boron and neodymium isotope measurements in carbonates to reconstruct oceanic and atmospheric circulation changes and seawater pH histories. The diverse team of early career and experienced faculty along with their students will use this instrumentation to transform our understanding of the way our planet works at the surface (biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere) and at depth (lithosphere). We intend to engage large numbers of undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge STEM training using state-of-the-art instrumentation through both research experiences and high-impact teaching opportunities that provide hands on training in the use of clean room laboratory techniques and in the operation of the mass spectrometer.This award provides funding for the acquisition of a Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be housed in the Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The MC-ICPMS instrument comprises an ICP source, a magnetic sector mass analyzer, and an array of multiple detectors that allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiple isotopes. This static isotope ratio measurement results in a precision far superior to that obtained by sequential isotope measurement by single collector ICPMS. Laser ablation (LA) is a widely used sampling method for in-situ ICPMS analyses of solid samples that are either difficult to digest or where resolution of spatial relationships within sampled micro-domains is critical. The laser system includes the HelEx sample chamber necessary to produce stable signals and reproducible ablation effects. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers to address questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Principle investigator projects will focus on 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods for "petrochronology" by split-stream ICPMS and trace-element screening of zircons for high-precision U-Pb dating; 4) U/Th dating and boron isotope measurements in deep-sea corals to reconstruct ocean ventilation and seawater pH histories; 5) Nd isotopes as a tracer of oceanic and atmospheric circulation.